Charles William Bostick, Sr., 85, passed away January 6, 2024, in Florence, Alabama. He was born November 11, 1938 in Littleville, Alabama to Henderson Rosco and Ida Bell (Brown) Bostick, one of ten children. In 1956, at the age of 18, with dreams for a better life than sharecropping cotton in the fields of Alabama, he left for Zion, Illinois.
In Zion, he met and married Marlene Ann Loew and began learning a skill that would eventually lead to beginning his own company – Complete Landscape Service and Blacktop. With hard work came many rewards and he generously shared everything he had with family and friends throughout his lifetime.
From the mid-1960s until the track closed in 1979, he raced at Waukegan Speedway where he was known to make the back end of the car “as wide as it could be.” He passed the wheel to his son, but he wasn’t ready to hang up the helmet yet, being active in the pits at Wilmot Raceway and being known to occasionally take the car out for a few laps. After moving back to Alabama, Dad took great pride in being able to participate in the Colbert County Farmer’s Market, which was his way of ensuring he could help provide fresh produce to everyone, but especially those in need.
Charlie was preceded in death by his wife, Marlene; sons, Charles William Jr. and infant John Joseph; great-grandson, Daniel Esp; his parents; sisters, Flora Mae Stout, Opal Bostick, Ruby Lowery, and Lucille Honey; brothers, William James Bostick, Franklin Bostick, Rosco Bostick, John Bostick, and Robert Bostick; half-brothers: Arlin Bostick, Garlin Bostick, Nolan Bostick, Meredith Bostick, and Raymond Bostick.
Leaving to love and cherish his memory are his daughters, Nancy (John) Esp and Julie (Joe) Leech; grandchildren, John (Venessa) Esp, Joseph (Sarah McDaniel) Esp, Justin Alotti, Charles Bostick III, Jared Leech, and Jenna Leech; great-grandchildren, Jacob Esp, and Evelyn Esp; sisters-in-law, Kathleen Jackson and Karen (Greg) Orlando; brother-in-law, Tom (Nina) Loew; and grandfurs, Chance, Luckie and Finley.
Interment will be private for the family at Ascension Catholic Cemetery in Libertyville, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Dad’s name to your local Humane Society location.
Please visit morrisonfuneralhomes.com to leave tributes and condolences for the family.
